Tag Archives: french gin

Discovering Gardner Gin

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Gardener is a London Dry gin that marries traditional methods with modern elegance. Distilled in France with a wheat base and using copper pot stills, it features an organic botanical blend that includes juniper, licorice, coriander, and angelica. What sets it apart is the infusion of fresh and dry citruses from the Cap d’Antibes area, including grapefruit, lemon, and both sweet and bitter orange.

Tasting Notes

On the nose, Gardener presents pleasant aromas of juniper intertwined with citrus fruit, black currant, and subtle notes of mint. The palate is smooth and balanced, with the citrus and juniper flavors leading to a long, satisfying finish. This gin is perfect for those who appreciate a classic London Dry style spirit.

A Celebration of Craftsmanship

The creation of Gardener Gin is a story of passion and expertise. Tom Nichol, a legendary figure in the world of gin who previously was the master distiller at Tanqueray, brings over 40 years of experience to this project. We were fortunate enough to interview Nicol previously at Simple Cocktails. His vision was exercised with the help of Brad Pitt and the winemaking Perrin family, and it resulted in a gin that is a celebration of the French Riviera’s unique terroir.

Cocktail: The Gin Sour

  • In a shaker, combine:
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • 1 egg white
  • Vigorously dry shake (no ice), then add ice and shake again
  • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with 3 drops of bitters.

Whether you’re a gin connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, Gardner Gin offers a unique and memorable experience that captures the heart and soul of the French Riviera.

Have you had the chance to try Gardener Gin yet? What are your thoughts on it? Let me know in the comments below!

G’Vine Nouaison

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gvine nouaison

This summer, I tried G’Vine gin for the first time. What I didn’t really realize at the time was there are two varieties of G’Vine: Flouraison and Nouaison. Flouraison, as I described in my previous post, is a mild, soft gin with quite a bit of sweetness and traces of minty licorice.

Nouaison, I’ve discovered, is more akin to a London Dry as it’s a spicier bitier gin with cinnamon and clove. Nouaison is more in line with my personal preference in gins, as I tend to prefer London Drys to many of the milder gins.

In cocktails, Nouaison has a very different character than it’s more herbal brother, and I can see why G’Vine told me that they consider Flouraison a warm-weather gin and Nouaison a cold-weather gin. This would be a great gin in a hot toddy or a tea as the spice profile is a perfect fit.

Somewhere on the list of my favorite gins, Nouaison has elbowed it’s way in. This is a unique winter gin, and reminds me of Big Gin a little bit because of it’s flavor profile. Nouaison is definitely one to try if you like your gins spicy with a bite.

G’Vine Gin

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g'vine gin, southside cocktail

There are some pretty common subcategories popping up in the gin world, though it seems the most dominant ones are the traditional London Drys (like Tanqueray or Beefeater) and the “softer” gins (like Hendrick’s or Aviation). Most gins share common botanical elements, and the way those botanicals taste will likely help you choose a gin for your cocktails.

G’Vine Gin is distilled from grapes in Cognac, France. It’s flavor is primarily licorice, which has a bit of a bite at the end of your sip. It’s a little bit sweet, too, and while the flavors are clear and pronounced, they’re also pretty mild, giving you a subtle cocktail ingredient that’s somewhere between vodka and the bolder London Drys.

I found a great cocktail for G’Vine. The Southside Fizz is growing in popularity, and to the unfamiliar, it’s really a “Gin Mojito.” You can also serve this without the soda and ice in a cocktail glass (just called a Southside then). Here’s the recipe:

Southside Fizz

  • in the bottom of a Collins glass, muddle mint leaves in:
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 1 oz lime juice
  • fill the glass with ice and add 2 oz gin
  • top with club soda and stir well